Flitcroft “I’ve had a fantastic relationship with Danny Rose”

Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft has hit back at predecessor Steve Evans claims of a bad relationship between him and want away striker Danny Rose.

The front man handed in a transfer request last Wednesday following speculation that Peterborough United, managed by former Stags boss Evans, had made a bid for the Stags leading front man.

Rose missed the Stags’ opening game of the season, a 3-0 win over Newport County – speaking after the victory, Flitcroft cleared up the speculation “I felt towards the back end of the week it [the situation] was turning into a bit of a circus with the media – I thought that our professionalism was outstanding.

“We received a bid, it wasn’t good enough – the Chairman’s made that quite clear, if he wants to move, it’ll be at the Chairman’s valuation, no one elses.

“I think some of the stuff that’s come out from the club that has bid for him, certainly from a personal point of view – it was a personal attack on me and my relationship with Danny Rose.

“Just to set the record straight with Danny, I put him in the team and gave him his debut when I was at Barnsley – he helped secure me the job so I’ve nothing but admiration for Danny.

“When I went to Bury, I signed him and persuaded my then chairman Stuart Day to spend good money on Danny – I got promoted with him. In League One then when I was at Bury I had to stay in the league, so I got Leon Clarke and Tom Pope in – two League One top hitters.

“I explained to Danny that by getting them in, it’s important that he goes and plays games and really sets his career alight. He then moved to Mansfield, yes I was then manager that sold him then, I didn’t see him as the third choice centre forward – I saw him as a front line centre forward, he came to Mansfield and the rest is history – he was outstanding.

“I’ve had a fantastic relationship with Danny Rose. Every game he was available last season, I played him until he was injured”

The window for permanent deals slams shut at 5pm on Thursday, Flitcroft continued “I’d like to say that if Danny Rose goes on to do fantastically well I’ve played a part in that, in his career – that’s setting the historical facts right, I think it’s important that the truth is told and that’s what happened during my time with Danny Rose”